Wyoming

Downtown Anchorage with the snow covered Chugach Mountains in the background.

Alaska Activates Crisis Standards of Care

Daily new COVID cases per capita in Alaska are the nation's highest. The crisis standards enable overwhelmed hospitals to ration care. Gov. Mike Dunleavy recognized the crisis yet saw no need to take steps to reduce coronavirus transmission.

September 27, 2021 - The New York Times

COVID-19 Test

The Pandemic Crisis Is a Hospital Crisis

"Flatten the curve" was one of the first pandemic terms that Americans heard during the first surge. The idea was to reduce coronavirus transmission so as to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. But which curve? Case in point: Idaho.

September 23, 2021 - The New York Times

Missouri

Pandemic Geography: Missouri Outbreak Driven by Delta Variant

With 65.4% of the nation's adult population at least partially vaccinated, daily new COVID cases have dropped to the lowest level since late March 2020. However, cases are increasing in some states, none more than Missouri.

June 21, 2021 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Colorado River

New Drought Contingencies Triggered for Upper Colorado River States

The latest Bureau of Reclamation report on water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead trigger new drought contingencies in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

May 26, 2021 - Upper Colorado River Commission

Mass Vaccination

Vaccination Disparities Between Urban and Rural America

The pandemic has largely been measured by case incidence, down significantly in recent weeks in most states. A new metric, the vaccination rate, may determine where the virus strikes next. The urban-rural divide is a major factor, says the CDC.

May 25, 2021 - CNBC

COVID-19 Pandemic

Pandemic Still Surging in Parts of the U.S.

Bloomberg News' 'Evening Briefing' on April 29 looked at the global pandemic, noting the horrific scenes in India, Brazil's rising death toll, and added, "Coronavirus mutations are also wreaking havoc in America." Oregon is their focus.

May 2, 2021 - Bloomberg News

Desert Rain

Drought Takes Hold of the American West

The megadrought continues, with contingency plans differing by location.

April 21, 2021 - CNN

Page, Arizona

Drought Contingency Plan Triggered for the Colorado River

Signs of worsening drought conditions in the American West are triggering early actions for states that depend on water from the Colorado River.

January 21, 2021 - KUNC

Durango, Colorado.

How Working From Home Is Changing Where We Live

Remote workers are flocking to small, amenity-rich towns in the West, changing their social and economic landscape.

January 15, 2021 - High Country News

Wyoming

Cash-Strapped Wyoming Towns Face Existential Threat

With the decline of the fossil fuel industry and the economic effects of COVID-19 further gutting the state, Wyoming and some of its small cities are facing dire fiscal consequences.

November 9, 2020 - Casper Star-Tribune

Wyoming

Real Estate Market Setting Records in One of the West's Most Desirable Escapes

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is seeing a pandemic bump in real estate prices that mirrors the experience of vacation and tourism towns all over the United States.

October 22, 2020 - Jackson Hole News & Guide

Coronavirus COVID-19

The Changing Geography of the Pandemic

During the pandemic's first phase in March and April, the Northeast was devastated by COVID-19. After Memorial Day, the surge was in the South and West. As cases decrease nationwide, they are now spiking in the Midwest, particularly North Dakota.

August 27, 2020 - The Washington Post

Jackson Hole

In Wyoming, Vast Open Spaces Meet Extreme Gaps Between Rich and Poor

The story of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, illustrates the class tensions that arise when an idealized vision of life close to nature butts up against the realities of wealth, privilege, and social inequality.

March 26, 2020 - Outside

Coal Railroad

Mountain Coal States vs. West Coast Cities

A legal battle is being waged between the coal-exporting states of Utah, Wyoming, and Montana and coastal cities in California, Oregon, and Washington that pits the power of local land-use authority against the protection of interstate commerce.

March 16, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Interstate 80

Wyoming Legislation Would Add Tolls to Interstate 80

A new bill would grant the Wyoming Transportation Commission the authority to impose tolls on all lanes of over 400 miles of I-80 to fund infrastructure needs on the roadway.

January 17, 2020 - CDLLife.com

Interstate 80

High Cost of Maintenance Prompts Wyoming Legislators to Consider Tolling I-80

Over the objections of the oil and trucking industries, an interim committee voted to allow the Wyoming legislature to determine whether to toll all lanes on Interstate 80 due to a shortfall in the state transportation budget.

August 18, 2019 - Buffalo Bulletin

Glen Canyon Dam

Historic Drought Plan Approved by Congress

The Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan will head to President Trump's desk for an expected signature before heading back to seven states for final ratification.

April 11, 2019 - Cronkite News

Water SUpply

Las Vegas' Growth Tied to its Dwindling Water Supply

Las Vegas has almost maximized its growth potential given projects for its future water supply—something has to give.

April 4, 2019 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Recreational Vehicle

Bipartisan Support for Federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Bill

Established in 2005 to reduce toxic diesel emissions, the Diesel Emissions Reductions Act expired in 2016. A bipartisan effort appears to be in place to see it reauthorized this year.

March 23, 2019 - Transport Topics

skiers on a tram

Plan to Bring Electric Buses to Jackson Hole

A grant application would fund the purchase of eight electric buses to join the START Bus fleet.

July 6, 2018 - JH News and Guide

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

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